Microsoft and Agawi Bring Cloud-Based Gaming to Windows 8

By David Eitelbach | Sep 10, 2012 05:00 PM EDT

Microsoft and Agawi (formerly known as iSwifter) announced today a partnership to to bring a variety of games — including social Facebook games, mid-core and hardcore titles — to Windows 8 devices using the Windows Azure cloud platform. No extra work will be required of developers to bring their games to Windows 8 using the service.

Whether Agawi offers a viable alternative for Windows 8 users to OnLive — a rival cloud streaming game service that recently laid off all of of its staff, but denied going out of business — remains to be seen. Agawi will be demonstrating their cloud-based gaming service at the Cloud Gaming USA event in San Francisco next week, where cloud gaming enthusiasts can see the platform in action first-hand. In the meantime, check out Agawi’s demo video for yourself below.